MacCarthy (
Irish:
Mac Cárthaigh), also spelled
McCarthy, is a
Gaelic Irish clan originating from
Munster, an area they ruled during the Middle Ages. It was and continues to be divided into several great branches. The
MacCarthy Reagh,
MacCarthy of Muskerry, and MacCarthy of Duhallow dynasties were the three most important of these, after the central or
MacCarthy Mór line.